Hatchback: 2012 Toyota Yaris

2012 Toyota Yaris

PHOTO: Handout, Toyota

By Graeme Fletcher, National Post

Originally published: October 21, 2011

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

The 2012 Yaris, which will be offered in both three- and five-door hatchback models, features an attractive gauge cluster that sits behind the steering wheel. This sbrings the Yaris back to the heart of a very competitive market. Of course, the fact the new Yaris is also larger helps matters. The overall length is up 100 millimetres, while the wheelbase grows 50 mm to 2,510 mm. The latter represents a change in the suspension pickup points and not a stretch in the platform. The increased length ups the cargo capacity to 10.1 cubic feet (up 0.6 cu. ft.) and there is more rear-seat legroom thanks to the reshaped back of the front seat. The other welcome move is a seat memory for the three-door models. The disappointment is that, here in the Great White North, heated seats will not be offered. Period. It’s a bad move given Canada’s love of toasted buns and the fact said warmers are available on many of its key competitors.

The styling has been ramped up from staid to fetching. It features a stronger face, a more purposeful stance and some much needed character through the side that’s seen in the rising belt line. At the back, the rear wheel arches are more pronounced.

The Yaris stands pat powertrain-wise. This means a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that pushes 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. The engine is smooth and suitably hushed, even refined, when pushed, and it delivers a surprising turn of speed given the numbers at play.

There are two transmissions offered — a five-speed manual and an optional four-speed automatic. The manual features a defined gate and a clutch that bites in the right place. The automatic is not so good. It slips through its gears smoothly, but the problem is the lack of them. In order to get the desired launch off the line and on through the mid-range, the ratios favour this section of the driving spectrum. On the highway, the transmission really needs another cog or two — the engine is forced to run at an inflated 3,200 rpm at 120 kilometres an hour, which is not good from a noise standpoint. Nor is it the best strategy for promoting fuel economy. This, perhaps, explains why the automatic is thirstier (0.2 litres per 100 kilometres) than the manual. Carping aside, the powertrain has the desired effect. The Yaris runs to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds and accomplishes the more important 80-to-120-km/h passing move in 7.9 seconds.

There are no complaints in the handling department. While the setup still uses MacPherson struts up front and a twist beam in the rear, it has been tuned to feel more European. This means the amount of body roll has been drastically reduced. The good news is that the ride quality does not suffer because of the tauter settings.

The 2012 Yaris hatchback is priced to sell. It starts at $13,990 for the CE three-door hatch (it is very basic transportation — no air conditioning, no cruise, manual windows, manual locks and side door mirrors that require the windows to be opened to adjust them) and runs to $19,990 for the loaded five-door SE. Toyota says the most popular model will be the five-door LE with the convenience package (it brings the aforementioned items as well as power mirrors). It is priced at $15,990, which is $1,090 less than the outgoing equivalent. In an odd twist, the Yaris sedan carries over totally unchanged.